Method and system for processing potatoes

Abstract

A method and system are provided for slicing raw, whole potatoes into sticks or strips; sorting the sticks with photoelectric scanners, separating out sticks having black or discolored spots thereon, snipping the ends of the separated sticks and sorting the separated sticks after snipping.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of sorting raw potato sticks to separate out those having black or discolored spots thereon and snipping the ends of the separated sticks to remove the spots, comprising the steps of providing individual raw sticks in a liquid medium in a liquid transporting means from a source, separating the sticks from the liquid medium, sorting the sticks in air by dividing the separated sticks as they are conveyed on a conveyor belt into a plurality of paths that terminate at separate points along the side edges of the conveyor belt, dropping the sticks individually from the conveyor belt at the end of each path for free-fall through a photoelectric scanner located therebelow, detecting each stick having a dark or discolored spot, providing a signal corresponding to each such detection, ejecting each such detected stick during free-fall thereof to an alternative path in response to said signal, snipping the ends of the ejected sticks, and transporting all sticks not ejected away for further processing or packaging. 
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of repeating the sorting, ejecting and snipping steps for each stick having its ends snipped until the black or discolored spots are removed from the sticks. 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of separating the sticks from the liquid medium includes passing the sticks over a vibrating screen and onto the conveyor belt. 
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the snipping of the sticks includes the steps of receiving the ejected sticks in a first cutting chamber, cutting one end of each stick, transferring each stick to a second cutting chamber, cutting the other end of the stick in the second chamber and separating the cut ends from the sticks. PG,24 
     
     
       5. A method for slicing raw whole potatoes into sticks, sorting the sticks to separate out those having black or discolored spots thereon and snipping the ends of the separated sticks to remove the spots, comprising the steps of providing peeled whole raw potatoes in a liquid medium, forcing the potatoes through a network of knives to produce individual raw elongated sticks, separating the sticks from the liquid medium, sorting the sticks in air by dividing the separated sticks as they are conveyed on a conveyor belt into a plurality of paths that terminate at separate points along the side edges of the conveyor belt, dropping the sticks individually from the conveyor belt at the end of each path for free-fall through a photoelectric scanner located therebelow, separating out sticks having black or discolored spots by detecting such sticks during free-fall through each scanner, providing a signal corresponding to each such detection, ejecting each such detected stick during free-fall thereof out of the free-falling path to an alternative path in response to said signal, snipping the ends of the separated sticks having spots, and transporting all sticks without black or discolored spots away for further processing or packaging. 
     
     
       6. A system for sorting raw potato sticks to separate those having black or discolored spots thereon and snipping the ends of the separated sticks to remove the spots, comprising: means for conducting the raw stick in a liquid medium from a source; means for separating said sticks from the liquid medium; means for sorting the sticks while moving in air, said sorting means including conveyor means having a plurality of stationary dividers thereover that divide the sticks into a plurality of separate paths as the sticks are conveyed, the paths terminating at separate points along the side edges of the conveyor means; photoelectric scanner means located below each path end for receiving the sticks in free-fall therethrough and detecting those sticks having black or discolored spots thereon; means for separating out sticks having black or discolored spots thereon during free-fall in response to said scanner means; means for snipping the ends of the separated sticks having spots; and means for transporting all sticks without black or discolored spots away for further processing or packaging. 
     
     
       7. A system in accordance with claim 6 further comprising means for returning each separated stick having spots to the sorting means after snipping. 
     
     
       8. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for separating the sticks from the liquid medium includes a downwardly inclined vibrating screen and wherein said conveyor means is a belt located adjacent said vibrating screen. 
     
     
       9. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said scanner means includes a double-walled cylindrical tube of clear material defining a chamber through which the sticks are permitted to free-fall; at least one ring-shaped high-intensity light surrounding said cylindrical tube and illuminating said chamber with a constant intensity; a plurality of phototubes located in a common plane and circumferentially displaced from each other around said tube and aimed toward said chamber; and an electrical operating circuit connecting said phototubes and providing a signal in response to predetermined opacity of the sticks as they fall through the chamber. 
     
     
       10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for ejecting the sticks having black or discolored spots includes an air compressor and a plurality of air jets connected thereto controlled by the signal of said scanner means, said air jets being located below said chamber and providing a force of air transversely of the path of the free-falling sticks upon command of said scanner that is capable of diverting a free-falling stick out of its path. 
     
     
       11. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for adjusting the timing between detecting a stick of a predetermined opacity and the energizing of the air jets to eject that stick out of its free-falling path and means for adjusting the point of opacity of the sticks at which the signal will be provided for energizing the air jets. 
     
     
       12. A system for slicing raw whole potatoes into sticks, sorting the sticks to separate out those having black or discolored spots thereon and snipping the ends of the separated sticks to remove the spots, comprising: means for conducting the whole potatoes in a liquid medium to slicing apparatus; slicing apparatus receiving the whole raw potatoes and slicing them individually into elongated raw sticks; means for separating said sticks from the liquid medium carrying the sticks; means for sorting the sticks while moving in air, said sorting means including conveyor means having a plurality of stationary dividers thereover that divide the sticks into a plurality of separate paths as the sticks are conveyed, the paths terminating at separate points along the side edges of the conveyor means; photoelectric scanner means located below each path end for receiving the sticks in free-fall therethrough and detecting those sticks having black or discolored spots thereon; means for separating out sticks having black or discolored spots thereon during free-fall in response to said scanner means; means for snipping the ends of the separated sticks having spots; and means for transporting all sticks without black or discolored spots away for further processing or packaging. 
     
     
       13. A system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising means for returning each separated stick having spots to the sorting means after snipping.